National Hockey League general managers have voted to implement a new overtime rule aimed at cutting back on the number of games decided by shootouts. Instead of five minutes of four-on-four hockey, the new rule calls for three-on-three play.
The idea of an overtime ending in a shootout was introduced to the league in the 2004-2005 lockout.
This past season, 178 games ended in shootouts — 14.5 percent of all games played.
The plan still awaits the approval from the NHL’s Board of Governors Wednesday. According to NHL.com, both the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Swedish Hockey League saw an increase of games decided in overtime by about 40 percent.
General managers say that the three-on-three concept objective is to create more space on the ice and more puck movement. Nashville Predators general manager that the consensus was almost unanimous and he says this rule is just another “tweak to the game.”
Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall said that three-on-three allows for “player’s skill levels to really come out.” He, also, recognizes that not only will this be easier on the players themselves but it puts new and exciting pressure on the teams’s coaches.
Jarmo Kekalainen, the general manager of the Columbia Blue Jackets told ESPN that he’s been advocating for this kind of rule for a long time now. “As much as there’s excitement for the shootout, I’d like to see the games decided before the shootout if possible.”